2020 Premier Awards - Best Local Editorial ( Circulation 10000 to 12499,Circulation 12500 to 17499,Circulation 17500 and over)
Back
Place Name:
First Place
Contestant Name:
Comox Valley Record (Courtenay/Comox Valley, BC)
Entry Title:
Affordable housing is no longer affordable
Judge Comment:
The competition was very close for first. In this editorial the writer nicely questioned the definition of government-funded affordable housing and proposed another definition. The editorial was clear and impassioned and dealt with a vexing issue of what makes housing "affordable". The writer employed statistics in a clear and persuasive manner.
Place Name:
Second Place
Contestant Name:
St. Albert Gazette (St. Albert, AB)
Entry Title:
In a pickle
Entry Credit:
St. Albert Gazette Editorial Board
Judge Comment:
The editorial focusses on the issue of noise--specifically pickle ball noise (!)--and resident requests to mitigate. It is an entertaining and well written piece that spans municipal politics and funding, community standards (noise) and a cultural phenomena that is pickle ball. While I disagree with the editorial's conclusions (pickle ball noise is a special kind of hell) the editorial reflects the importance of shining a light on government expenditures and resident concerns that might seem lame unless you are forced to live with them.
Place Name:
Third Place
Contestant Name:
The Lake Report (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
Entry Title:
Journalists don't answer to public relations depts
Entry Credit:
Richard Harley
Judge Comment:
When it comes to the Niagara Peninsula, national news coverage stops in Hamilton. This is why local news is so important to this region. In this editorial the writer gives readers an insight into reporting methods that serve to be stymied by municipal media gatekeeping. The editorialist clearly outlines the new policy not to contact folks like the mayor directly and why The Lake Report will not be abiding by it. Impassioned writing. Clear argument.
Competition Comment:
The entries in this competition category were uniformly good. They all were serving their communities in important ways and writing about important issues. I found the judging more difficult than any other competition I have judged before.
Space is very tight for these editorials but I was looking for a counterargument that often didn't exist. I find editorials are more persuasive when they consider a counterargument and then dismiss it.
This set of editorials proves the importance of local media to the communities they serve.
